Lens-testing machinery



April 3, 1928. I 1,664,923

w. A. GUNNING LENS TESTING MACHINERY Filed Dec. 4. 1919 3 Sheets-She d, l

INVENTOP W/L L IAN A .GUNNIN G.

' I BY ATTORNEYS April 3, 1928.

1,664,923 w. A. GUNNING LENS TESTING MACHINERY Filed Dec. 4. 1919 3. s t -s t 2 k v 5 "a a u;

N W 5], o \n *3 I I w H ("J o w w $3 Y L i..- Q m W l i "2 mwl H i [j 1L a a 9 2 INVENTOR Q 7 4 WILLIAMAGUIVNIHG BY 5 HSHYJ ATTORNEYS April 3, 1928.

' 1,664,923 W. A. GUNNING LENS TESTING MACHINERY Filed Dec. 4. 1919 55 35 34 3 Sheets-Sheet. 5

INVENTOR WILLIAM A. cvuN/vwe /5 BY M d ATTORN EYS Patented Apr. 3, 1928. hhMfiZE nun-so STATES earner QF-FICE. 7

wrnnran A. Genuine, or sonrnnnrnen, nesseonnsnryrs, ASSIGNOR T AMERICAN orrIoAL coiurnny, orsonrnen nsn, tressaoittusn'rrs, A vonUn'rAnY AssooIA- rron or messnonusn'r'rs. f

LENS-TESTING ecnI inaY.

Application filed December 4', 1919. SerialNo. 342,348.

This invention relates to improvements in 17 18, 19,20 and 39 in cross section in posi testing machinery and has particular refer tion on the lens. ence to an improved form of machine adapt- In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates ed for use inconne'ction with curved surfaces the main :trame of my machine provided such as ophthalmic lenses or articles of siiniwith the bearings. 2 for the horizontal shafts lar configuration; i 3 of the endless carrier lwhich passes over One of'the principal objects of the present the drums 5 and is provided with the hold- 69 invention is the provision of a novel and ers 6 for the lenses which are to be tested 7 improved machine for automatically deterand marked. Power is preferably applied mining the optical center, orin other words to the pulley 7 onthe shaft 8 which through the highest or lowest point as the case may the gear connections 9 rotates the pinion be, of :the curved surface being tested. segment 10 which cooperates with the muti- 65 A further objectoi the present invention lated'gear llon-the shaft 3 serving to imis the provision of a novel and improved part a step by step intermittent movement machine for use in connection with marking to the shaft 3 and carrier and thus to shift the" optical centers of opthalmic lenses or the carrier to present the/lens 12 in operathe like in which the several parts shall'optive position in the machine. 70 crate mechanically :as distinguished from The position occupied by the lens will optical centering of the lens and in which probably be best understood by reference to 20 the several operations may be rendered .au- Figure III from which it iwill'be seen that,

tomatic and dependent entirely upon meas the lensholding portions 6 of the carrier chanical action and movements and not upon come into 'operative' p'ositiomthe rock lever 75 the judgment of individual examiners. 18is actuated by'the cam 14-. on the shaft 8 A turtherobject of the present invention raisingthe plunger 15 which hasa yielding is the provision of a novel and improved movement through the spring 16. The machine for the intended purpose which plunger servesto littth'e lens out of its rethrough itsautomatic operation will enable taining seat 6 and press it upwardly against 8 lenses to :be properly centered and marked the series of contact points 17,18, 19, and much more rapidly than is now possible. these pins being so constructed and the Other objects and advantages of my inother parts of the machine so balanced that vention' should be readily apparent by rat they will through gravity be normally held erence' tot'he following specification taken in depressed position until raised by engagein connection with the accompanying draws ment with 'a lens therewith. These points ings, and it may be understood that I may are paired in i the pair 17 18 and the 35 make any modifications in specific detailsot pair 19-20. The construction and'operaconstruction shown and described within the tion of these two sets are identical, tl'iough scope of the appended claims without dedisposed in operative positions at right anparting from or exceeding the spirit of my gles to each other. It is, therefore, believed invention; that a description of the operation of one of 40 Figure I represents a front view of a mathese sets will suffice for a clear understandchine embodying my improvements. ingot both. i

Figure 11 represents an end view thereof. In this form of construct on the pin 17 s Figure 111 represents a vertical sectional rigidly secured to the frame 1 so as to he view aso-n the line 3 -8 of Figure I. held in fixed or immovable position, while I Figure IV represents a fragmentary view the pin or contact member 18 is slidable in similar to Figure 111 showinga ditlerent the guide 21 andis provided at itsupper adjustment or the parts'ther'e illustrated, portion with therack 22 meshing with the and i pinion 23 secured to the rock arm 24 which 'Figure V represents a detailed view of a is provided withthe segment rack 25 so that portionof the operating"gearing of the sliding movement of the pin 18 through the machine. i rack and pinion connection 22 and 23 serves Figure VI is a detail plan view of the lens to rock the arm 24. :The segment rack 25 showing the measuring and marking pins in turn isenmeshed with the'rackportionQG of the transverse slide 27 which is in turn connected with the link or pitman 28 which is pivoted to the slide 29 on-the cam operating rock arm 30. This rock arm 30 in turn has the segment rack portion 31 meshing with the pinion 32 on the slide controlling cam It will thus be seen that slight movement of the point 18 through the various connections just enumerated will be magnitied into a considerable rotative movement of the cam 33. This cam has indicated on it variations amounting to .06 diopter for con venience inlocating these points showing that the lensis off-centered to one side or another so that there is? this amount of variation in height between the bottom of the point or contacting member 17 and that of the member 18 while the curve of the cam itself is such that it takes care of the variations between these points.

The purpose of the mechanism in question is to determine the center of curve of the lens. This is the center optically considered in a circle, being the highest point if the curve is convex or the lowest point if the curve is concave. If, therefore, the members l718 are exactly horizontally alined at their lowest points, they determine a horizontal cord and a perpendicular bisecting that cord will strike the high point or low point .of the are as the case may be. If, however, the point 18 is either higher or lower than the point 17 the cordwill then not be horizontal but will'be tilted at an angle so that the perpendicular bisector will not be half-way between the points themselves but will be laterally displaced to the right, if the point 18 is lower or to the left, if the point 18 is higher. If desired simply to optically center the lens: with respect to the points 17, 18, 19 and 20, the lens could be shifted sideways until through the balancing of the points the cam is rocked back to indicate the zero point.

It is, however, the purpose of my invention to eliminate any shifting of the lens and automatically to wherever the same may lie. This I accomplish by providing the universally moving table construction mounted on the upper portion ofthe frame 1. This comprises the forwardly and rearwardly sliding section 34 having mounted on it the transversely sliding section 35,.these parts moving in directions at exact right angles to each other in the usual manner; The section 34; is provided with the roller 36 which contacts with the edge of the cam 33 and is held thereagainst as by the weight 37. Therefore, as the cam rotates, the table will move back and forth and will thus shift and carry with it the sliding spindle member 88 provided with the marking point 39 which will thus be moved over the lens so as to strike the correct point on the transverse curve which is the center mark a center pointesa-nee point as determined by the mechanism above described. p 7

At the same time it will be understood that the pins 19 and 20 have also been in operation, these pins being mounted in the sliding frame 410 which works vertically on the guides 411 so that the pins 19'and 20and the associated pinion 42 operate the rock arm l3, slideetat, through link 15, and the main segment arm 46 which serves to rotate the cam 47 andcontrolthe Inovcmentof the upper transversely shiftable slide 35. The pin 20 is rigidly secured to the slide 40, serving to'raise the slide as an entirety, as the lens is shifted upward, without varying the posi-' tion. of the cam 47. When, however, the

slide has cometo a stationary position,the l pin 19 will adapt itself to the shifting of the lens in the same manner as scribed in connection with the pin 18 and will shift its cam giving the proper transverse movement to the slide 35. These combined movements together, versally shift the spindle 38 until it is in the corfect position both forward andrearward anc the center of the longitudinal and transverse curves as has been automatically determined by the machine. 1 a

I Atthis point the cam 49 which is rotating with the shaft 8 presses the rock arm 50 forward andserves through the link 51 to rock the bell crank 52against the tension of the spring forcing the end of the .bell crank downwardly to pull down 011 the operating slide rod 54 and, through the arm and collar 56 on'the marking spindle 88, will force the marking point 39 againstjthe lens to indicate properly the center thereon. Immediately thereafter the cam releases arm 50 when the' spring 53 will reversely rock the parts shifting thema'rking point upward into inoperative position, while .just subsequent to this action the cam 57 will release the rock lever 58 which will 'beshifted by the spring 59 to movethe slide rod 60 and bring the inking rollerfil into position to previously detherefore, uni-- the V ink properly the point 39-for the next mark- 7 ing operation. 7 i i There is one other point to be considered in connection with the operation of my improved machine and that is the fact that on a weak curve lens much greater transverse movement is required to adjust properly for a given curve than is required on a strong curve lens, and it is, therefore, necessary to adjust the amount of rotation given the cam according to the strength of curve of lens or article being tested. This may accomplish either by varying the cams orby adjustment of my mechanism or both. a To facilitate the adjustment of the mechanism I have shown the cam operating the segment arms 30 and 46 as each provided with the arcuate slot. (52, having jireferably the rack portion 63' with which meshesthe adjusting pinion (if provided with the operating handle 65 serving to shift the slide 29'along'the arm in the slot 62 to the necessary position according to the curve to be operated upon, a suitable scale 66 being formed adjacent the 'slotto facilitate calibration of the adjustment.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of my improved mechanism should be readily apparent, and it will be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient machine in which the lenses may beplaced on an endless carrier, will be given a step by step advance automatically, and will be raised against certain contact points, the shifting of these points through suitable mechanism imparting movement" to' a marking point downward into engagement with the lens to mark the same, a shock absorbing spring 67 being provided to prevent breakage of the lens by undue forcing of the marking point thereagainst, after which the mechanism automatically operates to release the lens in question and to present the next lens beneath a marking point. It Will, therefore, be seen that I have provided an improved, simple, and eflicie'nt marking machine for centering and marking the centers of ophthalmic lenses or articles of similar nature automatically.

I claim:

1. A machine for the purpose described including an intern'i'ittently advancing lens carrier, a marking point,m'eansfor bringing the center of a lens on the lens carrier and the marking point into alignment, and means for moving the marking point into and out of contact with the lens on the lens carrier.

2. A machine for the purpose described including an intermittently advancing lens carrier, a marking point, means, for centering the marking point above a lens presented by the carrier, and means for actuating the markingpoint when properly centered.

3. A nachine for the purpose described including a support for the lens to be tested, means for marking the lens and means for moving the marking means towards and away from the lens and laterally with respect thereto to position it above the center of the lens.

4. A machine of the character described including a frame, a lens support, a pair of pins carried by the frame in fixed position with respect thereto, a second pair of pins carried by the frame adjacent the first pins and movable perpendicularly with respect to the face of a lens on the lens support, a marking device aligned With the lens support, means for shifting the marking device across the lens on the support to be tested at a predetermined ratio to the amount of, movement of the movable pins, and means for moving the marking device into and out of cont-act with the supported lens;

5'. A machine for the-purpose described includingalens support, means for intermittently placing a lens on the lens support, means for measuring the relative height of various points on the curved surface of a lens on said support, al rnarking point, means forfsupportin'g' said marking point for universa'l movement with reference to the lens support, and means for positioning the marking point at the average determined by the relative height measuring devices.

6. Ina mechanism for the purpose set forth,the-combination with a lens support, of a frame thereabove having immovable pins, and pins which are r eciprocable substantially perpendicularly to the face of a lens on the support, cams, connections between the reciprocabl'e pins and the cams for rotating the cams and giving movement proportionately to the perpendicular movemerit of the pins, a marking device aligned with the lens support and supported above the'article to be marked, and connections between the marking device and one of the cams for shif'ting the marking device as the cam rotates.

7. In a mechanism as set forth, the combination with a lens support, of a frame havan'immovable pin and a pin which is reciprocable substantially perpendicularly to the face of a lens on the support, a cam, connections between the reciprocable pin and the cam for rotating the cam and giving movement proportionately to the perpendicular movement of the pin, a marking device aligned with the lens support and supported above the article to be marked, connections between the marking device and the cam for shifting the marking device rotated, and duplicate shifting mechanisms disposedat right angles to the first and also cooperating with the marking device for varying its position in that direction.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a lens support, of a frame above the support bearing fixed pins and additional pins operable perpendicularly with respect to the lens on said support, arack shiftable by the movable pins, and a as the cam 1s dial actuated by the movement of the rack to indicate the amount of decentration of a lens on the lens support as respects the frame. I

9. In a machine of the cha 'acter described,

the combination with a lens carrier, of a plunger support for lifting a selected lens from the carrier, a frame disposed above the plunger support and including a fixed contact and a shiftable contact, a rotatable in dicator member and connections between the shiftable contact and the indicator member including a lens chine including a support for the combination with means for 4O eratively supported supported on said member for denoting the amount of decentration of the lens on the lens carrier with respect to the contacts of the frame. U V

' 10. A machine of the character described support, a frame bearing a pairof spaced pins, one of said pins being rigid in the frames and the other of the pins being movable, a marking device disposed between the pins, and a cam operatively connected with the movable pinand engaging themarkingdevice to present the marking device at the center of a lens on the lens support when engaged by the pins;

. 11. An automatic lens center marking mathe lens to be marked and a marking device aligned with the lens support, a shiltable support for the marking device, means for shifting the sup port, a plurality of lenscontacts, and con 20 nectlons between the shifting means and the contacts for centering the marking device above the center of the lens on the lens support.

, 12. In a device of the character intermittently presenting a lens to be tested, of means for shifting the lens into testing position, a

plurality of contacts for engaging the lens when mtesting position, cams associated 39 with certain of the contacts, and shiftable bv movement thereof, amarking device table shirt-able by action of the cams to center the marking device, and means lf'or brlnglng the marking device into contact with the lens in the testing position subsequent to the centering action of the cams.

13. A. toric lens marking machine including a frame having a support for the lens to be tested, a fixed and a movable pin opon the frame and adapted for engaging the lens to be tested, a shiftable member on the frame, fixed and movable pins operatively supported on said member parallel with the pins of the first set, with the movable pins adjacent each other, cam means and means operatively connected with the movable pins for actuating said cam means. i

14;. A tor-1c lens marking machine including a trame having a support for the lens to be tested, a lined and movable pin opera lively supported on the frame and adapted for engagmgthe lens on the support to be tested, a shiit'table member supported on the trams, fixed and movable pins operatively parallel with the pins of the first set, with the movable pins adjacent each other, cam means, means operatively connected with the movable pins for actuating said cam means,

described,

a universally shittable marking device, and connections between the ma-rking device and the cams for centering the marking device as respects both meridians-of the lens on thelens support being tested. v

lSQA toric lensjmarking machine includ;

.ing a frame having a support for thelensto V be tested,.a fixed and a movable pin, opera tively supported on said frame and adapted w.

for. engaging the lens on the support to be tested, a shiftablemember supported on the frame, fixed fllltliIlOVttblG pins'operatively supportcdon saidmember parallel with the pins of the first set, with the movable pins adjacent each other, cam means, means operatively connected with'the movable pins for actuating said cam means, a universally shiftable ,marking device, connections fbetween the marking device and thecams for centering the marking device as respects bot-h meridians ottlie supported lens being tested, andjmeans for automatically bringing the marking point into engagement with the supported lens after it has been properly positioned. i. 5

iii. in a lens marking machine, a support for the lens, for placing-the lens on the support in a position to be marked, a marking device aligned with the lens support, means, for centering the device inmarking position above the supported-lens when presented, and means tor-actuating the marking device against the supported lens. 4'

17.111 a lens marking machine, a support tor-the ,lens, means for placing the lens on the support-in a position to be marked, a plurality of parallel pins, certain of which being fixed; others of perpendicular tothe lens support, each of the latter pins being opposite the fixed pins, and means for actuating said movable pins. 18. In a lens marking machine, a lens support, a fixed frame, a movable frame operatively mounted on the fixed frame, a plurality of parallel pins, aligned'with the lens support, certain of which being fixed, others of which being movable perpendicu larly to the face of the lens when held by the lens support, one of the fixed pins and one of the movable pins being operatively mounted in the lixed frame, the other fixed, and movable pins being operativelymounted on the mo *able. frame.

In testimony whereof I have aliixed my signature.

an advancing carrier adapted.

which being movable 

